Crossing-signal.



Pafente; Dee: 31, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C, BRADSHAW.'

EOSSING SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED JULY !2= 19l6.

C. T. BHDSHAW.

CROSSING SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED IULY Iz I9Is.

Paned Dec. 31, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l intended purpose.

CHARLES T. BRDSHA'W, OF COLLINGSXOOB, NEN JERSEY.

CROSSING-SIGNAL.

. resection Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.. 31, 1918.

Application filed July 12, 1916. Serial No. 108,82.

To aM whom t may concern.'

Be it known that 1, CHARLES T. BaAnsi-IAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Collingswood, in the county ot Camden and State or' New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful mprovements in Crossing- Signals, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to improvements in railroad crossing signals. The object ot my invention is to provide a signaling device of novel, simple and etlicient construction and operation for signaling the approach of railroad trains to and their presence at crossings; and, with this object in view, my invention consists in the novel construction and combinations ot' parts hereinafter fully described and particularly claimed.

1n the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention:

Figure 1 is a face View or my improved crossing signal.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view, showing the electrical connections ot the actuating devices.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the signaling device, on line /1--42 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the signaling device, on line 5-5 of Eig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates a post or standard which is provided with a suitable supporting` hase Supported on the upper end ot the post 2 is a casing 6 which may he o1 any shape and size ior its is herein illustrated, this casing comprises,generally, a base portion 7 which issecured to the top of the post 2, two spaced facing walls 8, a top wall 9 and side walls 10, hinged, at 11, to the top'wall 9 and forming doors hy means of which access may he readily had to the interior ot the casing for repairs, adjustments and other purposes. The doors 10 are secured in the closed position shown by suitable screws 12 carried by the hase 7 and extending through holes in the doors 10 and having removable heads 13 adapted to engage the doors 10 and hold them in the closed position. the heads 13, the doors 10 may loe opened when desired.

Supported within the casing 6 is an electric or other suitable lamp 14 adapted to provide the light for the signal. The light from this lamp 14 shines through openings 15 in thl 'facing walls S; and the openings By removing f 15 torni a cross, as shown in Fig. 1, to indicate :t railroad crossing, as is thel common practice.

Within the easing 6 and adjacent and in close proximity to the two facing walls 8 thereof 'are two disks 16 secured on two short shafts 17 which are alincd with each other and are litted to turn in brackets 18 rising ixedly from the hase portion 7 of the casing 6. The shafts 17 proj ect inwardly from the brackets 18 and have ixcd thereon. collars 19 which are provided with upwardly-projecting arms 20. The upper ends ot the arms 2O are clamped between and connected by a pair of liars or plates 21 which are secured together h v bolts 22. Une collar 19 has a. downwardly extending arm 23 which is provided on its lower end with a weight 24. The disks 1G, shafts 17, arms 20, bars 21 and weighted arm 23 constitute a swinging frame which is adapted to be oscillated loy swinging the weighted arm 23 hack and' forth, thereby oscillating the disks 16. Each disk 16 is provided with two sets of openings corresponding with the openings 15 in the adjacent facing wall 8 and lacing adapted to loc lorought into registry therewith in alternate succession when the disks are oscillated. One set of openings in each disk 16 is covered with panels of clear or white glass 25 and the other set of openin gs in each disk 16 is covered with panels ot red glass 26. lVhen the disks 1G are at rest, as shown in the drawings, the panels of clear or white glass 25 are in registry with the openings 15, and, therefore, the signal normally shows a clear or white cross. lllhen, however. the disks 16 are oscillated, the panels ot red glass 26 aud the panels of clear or white glass 25 are brought into registry with the openings 15 in alternate succession, there-hy hashing a red light and a clear or white light through the openings 15 and showing a red cross and a clear or white cross in alternate succession.

The light from the. lamp 14 also shines through openings 27 in the side walls or doors 10 of the casing- G; and within the casing and adjacent to and in close proximity to the openings 27 is a plate or memher 28 which extends around the, `top and down the sides of the casing and conforms to the curvature thereof, lThis plate 28 is secured to and carried hy arms 29 which project from the loars 21, whereby when the bars 21 and disks 16 are oscillated, the plate s succession when the plate 28 is'oscillated.v

One opening in each side of the plate 28 is covered with a panel of clear or white glass 39 and the other opening in cach side of the plate is covered with a panel of red glass 30. The panels of clear or white glass -39 rest normally in registry with the opening 27;

and when the plate 28 is oscillated, the panels of clear or white glass'39 and the panels of redv glass 30 are brought into registrywith the openings27 in alternate succession. thereby flashing a clear or whitelight and a red light through the openings 27 in alter-v nate succession. i

One of the collars 19 is provided with a spring arm 31 which projects outwardly and downwardly therefrom. Adjacent to theA spring arm 31, and normally in contact therewith, is the free end of `an arm 32 which projects from the armature 35 of an electromagnet 33 which is mounted on a bracket 34'rising from the base 7 of the. casing. The armature 35 is pivoted on a pin 36 in the bracket 34 and the armature 35 withits arm 32 are held normally in the position shown, with the armature 35 out of 'contact with the magnet 33 and an adjustable stop screw 37 against a lug on the bracket 34, by the ac tion of asuitable spring A38 encircling the pin 36and having one end thereof engaged with the armature' 35 and the other end thereof engaged with the bracket 34. lVhen the electro-magnet 33 is energized, its armature' 1s drawn lnto contact therewith, caus-4 ing the armature arm 32 to act upon the spring arm 31 and turn the shafts 17 and swing the weighted arln 23, therebyv turning the disks 16' and bringing the red glass panels 26 into registry with the openings 15 in the facing walls 8. Just before the panels 26 register with the openings' 15, the

e movement of the arm 321s stopped by the engagement of `the 'armature 35 with the poles of the electro-magnet 33 andthe spring arm 31 moves out of contact with the arm 32, Ithereby breaking the electric circuit which energized the electro-magnet 33,-as will be hereinafter explained, and permit* ting the spring 33 to return the; arm 32 to the normal position shown, and permitting the weighted arm 24 to swing back to the normal position and 'thus returnl the disks 16 to the normal position with the clear or white panels 25 in registry with thc openings 15.A

Mounted above the casing 6 on the top wall 9 thereof is a bcllor'gong 40 adapted to be struck by the weighted ends or heads l-l on the upper ends of striking levers 42 which are fulcrumed, at 43, on brackets 44 erating the signal. railroad tracks, which may be called northsecured to the top wall 9 of the casing. The lower ends of the levers 42 have openings therein and they surround the upper`ends of levers 45 which .are fulcrumed, at 46, on the brackets 44. The upper ends of the levers 45 extend through openings 47 in' the top wall 9 of the casing and rest normally 'i against the outer walls of the openingsl` be- .h

ing held in this normal position bythe action of springs 48 which extend between tlu` gong` supporting post 49 and the heads 41 on the levers 42. The lower ends of 'the levers 45 are adapted to be struck in .alternate succession by sp'rlng arms 50 projecting 448'and causing the head 41 to strike the gong 40. l`hust'he gong 40 will be struck at each end ofthe movementof the disks'16,

audible alarm during the flashing of the light or the actuation of the visual alarrh. The levers 45 not onlyvserve as actuating devices for the` gonglevers 42 but they also serve as stops to limit the movement of the disks 16,. as the panels 25 and 26 thereof alternately come into registry with the openings A16.

Referring particlarly to Fig. 3, I shall now describe the means for supplyin electric current to the electro-magnet 33 or op- 60, 61 designate two bound and southbound tracks, respectively. The track 60 has two parallel rail sections 62'which forni a. block and are insulated from the `other sections of the track4 60; and the track 61 has two parallel sections 63 which form a block and are insulated from vother sections of the track 61, the blocksV 62 and 63 being the portions of the track at the crossing which is protected by the signal. The track sections`62 at one end thereof are connected by a wire64 which during the oscillation thereofyto sound anincludes a track battery 65; and the track sections 62 'at' the other end thereof are connected by a' Awire 66 which .includes a relayl 67. The track sections 63 at one end thereof are connected Vby a wire 68 which includes a track battery 69; and the track sections 63 at the other end thereof are connected by a wire 70. which includes a relay 71; and the rail sections 62 and 63 thus form two normally closed circuits Lncl'uding the relays 67 and 71l which when` short circuitedby the presence of cars in V the blocks 62 and 63 will drop their armatures 72 and 73. respectively.. 74 designates thelocal battery for the `signal cirwhen a. um 52 an@ G3 l blocks, one

tim Case ma, be l ,L l ne simi" ...-Acniizl and caused an@ ci" boii of alle velay arma Y bs fuis Close 'the lof'al or signal u, Closed abili@ mlm pasng Cvc'f (me. fibel); when the lcal l the m il, V lili@ armi in? f. sumeaing; o

:man 53 is swing bark .ll man iglis am li l i nml 27 of alie Casing 6 Crim* #l0 is mande@ as pre- P .'iuslff mi; am? im. rlalliing 0f 'the lign', Gf gong continual .vliilsa is .in ilwi' 0i iwlfli @film wloiz; When train leaves one block mid tain is in ofi-@if block the #Signal cianit will bfc/lien al. 'lille relays (3T ami 7l and the, moving parts of the signal will 0,0m@ to mst in the poiion shown in lha d Swings with th, aim S in Contact with die arm 'fm' a Suwc-eflinpg Signaling Hiv w. nl

mi not operating opei'ating.

Fom tine ("nsirncirifni "fnpiovecl signalj "m i0 it will. be Seen that mail@ @fain are in a block conssintinff; lille i@ of the ciosing; a VianaY :aignal alternately,

ng; a refill and a whili light laligae ll iglangei, and that the C: J; l-h, .su "a .n ,61, 1, yid) i nur go i Vim nl@ an. mn i, i inflicat tha aangaf, It 'will liso Y u dit wlmi train ifa presepi within the .bl-cl? danger zene, ille ccntiuting die signal W'll show a white cross, merely nlivatng the piaci me@ of a aihoad csesing. Dmin the, day 'time WliQn the, lamp Mt is nel; bui ning, clima will be no *Flashes of light from the opening l5 While the signal is lining; actualcl. int the real :incl White glass panel: Q6 and. 25, resp Attively, wili be, allez.'- naelv in' aight inlio iegiS-,iy with the open nd thereby indicate lli@ presumo n wlllin l'lw (langer non@ of Hw signaling' device, ila wnibiinxlninn a si jnal including an actuating i 2 'from ami mitomatically 'ref liui'i'lallff lo a nmmal position, an electroi'1;ag11l',a lnnfabln conflict, mit normally in limitant willi a pavjl', ci Said fr: ino and adapt- -rii lo lii v'nlifaid by SaiJl nlagnct when 0noi'gimll in z mzvc anni liani from ils noimal pnsiinn and in o conlall will. Said Contact il): anal tu rc-lni'n t0 a` noi-mal po- Sitmn cl i said inagnlt is dunegized, and a. normally apen J-lvclifiu ciicnil, including said magi -l andv .said cnntavl; naal', and said 'l'iamla .vfwilel'n' wliun said uilrnilv isulossd said i'an'w will be, nnn'ml from and anli0- n'lagicaflly intmnlal tn ila` nolinal position in z lim-nali, Snlxvsson to aclzna'o saiil frame.

2. ln a sign: ling dcviul, the combination of a supp-alt, a iframe, n'mvablo li'oxn and antnniati rally rvlul'nabl ln a normal pnsilzion. Yisibln and audible signals actuated by said fram@ when (moved. an ulwllmnagnt, a inovablu imitant parl normally in Contact with a pal-1', nf said l'i'ann and ailaplml tn be nplri'aml la); Saiil niagnvl' n'lnn energized to nimm said frame T'i'oin il nm'inal position and ont nl conf/avt with said voulant part andl to return Ln a, normal pnsitiion when said nia viz is dnnm'giL/,ML and a normally open Olm, ifi@y ii-cuit inl'lxnlnmv said magma; and` said on'avtv part and said 'f1-anne. whom- 'alv wlnn sani airmail in' rlnanll Halli lfl'ann will iw lnm'all Yfrom :unl antonminally i'fef m'nml nn ils nox'mal, pnsilinn in alternata; hnulnaann m avtual, said l'xana. A P). n a signaling( fle-ical (lie'comlbinaion nl: a supp-Orb, a Swinging 11min@ pivotvd 0n Said snpim' ai'nl allapmi in la, awnnlg from an@v iin a nninafirallv :'li'nin lo a, nln'nxal pw Silion, signal acl nalml by galli frame when moved, an electromagnct, a movable Contact part normally in contact with a part of said frame and adapted to be operated by said 'magnet when energized to move said frame automatically returned to itsvnormal posi-v tion in alternate succession -to actuate said frame.

'4. In a signaling device, the combination of a support, a lsignal including .an actuating frame movable from and automatically returnable to a normal position, an electromagnet, a pivoted contact part normally in contact with a part of said frame and adapted to be moved on its pivot by said magnet when energized to move Said frame from its normal position and out of Contact With said Contact part and to position when said magnet is denergized, and a normally open electric c ircuitsincluding said magnet and said Contact part and return to a normal.

said frame, whereby when said circuit is closed said frame will be moved from' and automatically returned to its normalposition in alternate succession to actuate\said frame.

5. In a signaling device, the combination of a support, a swinging frame pivoted on said support and adapted to be swung from and to automatically return to a normal position, a signal actuated by said frame Awhen moved, an electromagnet, a pivotcd contact part normally in contact with a part of vsaid frame and adapted to be moved on its pivot by said magnet when energized to move said frame from its normal position and out of contact With said contact part and to ret-u1 to a normal position when the magnet is deenergized, and a normally open electric circuit including said magnet and said con,- tact part and Said frame, whereby when said circuit is closed said frame will be moved from and automatically returned to its normal position in alternate succession to actuate said frame.

In testimony hereto.

' CHARLES T. BRADSHAV.

whereof I my signature. 

